ABA Inside Track

While Jackie’s away (and stuck in an elevator) Rob and Diana will play…podcast hosting duties for the month. This month last spring’s Book Club choice, “Activity Schedules for Children with Autism” gets released to the free feed (with free CEs for Patreon subscribers!) with new episodes on preference assessments and practicing within a school context. And speaking of pairs of awesome behavior analysts, special guest, John Staubitz, gives us the rundown on special education laws and what BCBAs really need to know about the scope of schoolwork. Now’s the time on podcast when we dance! Articles for May 2025 (UNLOCKED) Activity Schedules for Children with Autism Book Club McClannahan, L.E. & Krantz, P.J. (1999). Activity schedules for children with autism: Teaching independent behavior. Woodbine House. McClannahan, L.E. & Krantz, P.J. (2010). Activity schedules for children with autism: Teaching independent behavior. (2nd ed.). Woodbine House. Rehfeldt, R.A. (2002). A review of McClannahan and Krantz's "Activity schedules for children with autism: Teaching independent behavior": Toward the inclusion and integration of children with disabilities. The Behavior Analyst, 25, 103-108. doi: 10.1007/BF03392048   PIctorial and Video-Based Preference Assessments Heinicke, M.R., Carr, J.E., Pence, S.T., Zias, D.R., Valentino, A.L., & Falligant, J.M. (2016). Assessing the efficacy of pictorial preference assessments for children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49, 848-868. doi: 10.1002/jaba.342 Brodhead, M.T., Al-Dubayan, M.N., Mates, M., Abel, E.A., & Brouwers, L. (2016). An evaluation of a brief video-based multiple-stimulus without replacement preference assessment. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9, 160-164. doi: 10.1007/s40617-015-0081-0 Wolfe, K., Kunnavatana, S.S., & Shoemaker, A.M. (2018). An investigation of a video-based preference assessment of social interactions. Behavior Modification, 42, 729-746. doi: 10.1177/0145445517731062   Practicing Within a School Context w/ John Staubitz Stevenson, B.S. & Correa, V.I. (2019). Applied behavior analysis, students with autism, and the requirement to provide a free appropriate public education. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 29, 206-215. doi: 10.1177/1044207318799644 Stevenson, B., Bethune, K., & Gardner, R. (2024). Still left behind: How behavior analysts can improve children’s access, equity, and inclusion to their entitled education. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-00992-4 Copeland, S.R., Duffie, P., & Maez, R. (2025). Preparation of behavior analysts for school-based practice. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-01028-7  

This engaging discussion dives into the vital role of family support in treatment planning for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The hosts highlight the importance of understanding family dynamics and context in behavior change. Listeners learn about the complexities families face in accessing services and how professionals can empower them. The episode also touches on the transition to contextual treatment planning and celebrates collaboration through shared experiences. Insights on fostering communication and trust make for a thoughtful exploration of family-centered care.

Dive into the humorous world of paperwork challenges faced by behavior analysts. Discover innovative strategies to enhance note-taking with effective checklists and improve data collection processes. Learn how pictorial self-instruction packets can transform staff training and streamline documentation. The conversation is light-hearted yet insightful, connecting pop culture references with practical tips for better paperwork management. Plus, enjoy playful banter and snack recommendations from the hosts!

We’re finishing up our two-part Listener Choice episodes highlighting tutorial articles that give you the “how to” when it comes to important BCBA skills. And if you enjoyed our episode on procedural integrity, you’re going to LOVE this tutorial all about using token economies. We dive into some token economy history, basic set up, application, and come to the conclusion that WE’VE BEEN DOING TOKEN ECONOMIES WRONG! Or, at least not as well as we could be. If you’ve ever laminated Sponge Bob stickers, you owe it to yourself to listen to this episode. This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU. Articles discussed this episode: Ackerman, K. B., Samudre, M., & Allday, R. A. (2020). Practical components for getting the most from a token economy.Teaching Exceptional Children, 52(4), 242-249. doi: 10.1177/0040059919892022 Kazdin, A.E. (1982). The token economy: A decade later. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 15, 431-445. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1982.15-431. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1982.15-431 Degli Espinosa, F. & Hackenberg, T.D. (2024). Token economies: Evidence-based recommendations for practitioners. Behavioral Interventions. doi: 10.1002/bin.2051 If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, and the two episode secret code words to complete the purchase. Email us at abainsidetrack@gmail.com for further assistance.

The hosts dive into the quirks of spring in New England while introducing a grab bag of diverse research topics. They discuss the challenges of elopement behaviors in children with autism and the importance of community support. A fascinating look at online gaming safety skills training reveals innovative teaching methods amidst rising digital risks. Plus, there's a compelling comparison of equivalence-based instruction versus traditional lectures, demonstrating noteworthy improvements in student learning. Join in for insightful discussions blended with playful banter!

Enjoy a short preview of our latest full-length Book Club episode.  Want to hear the whole thing and get 2.5 CEs for FREE? Subscribe to our Patreon today at the premium $10+ levels for that plus other bonuses! Could this book actually save your marriage? Well, that's not really the point of it; however, we found a LOT to enjoy and reflect on in our discussion of "Divergent Minds" by Jenera Nerenberg, a broad look at adult female neurodiversity in the modern era. Just how much of our socialization process practically mandates masking behavior in autistic women? And what does it mean to an individual labeled "highly sensitive" when entering the workforce or family life? Join us as we take a look at five commonly identified neurodivergences and the experiences of the women learning to live in a world not designed for them. This full version of this episode is available for 2.0 LEARNING CEUs. Patrons at the $10 and up level, as part of your subscription, you’ll be able to earn these CEs for no charge! Subscribe to our Patreon today! Content discussed in this episode: Nerenberg, J. (2020). Divergent mind: Thriving in a world that wasn’t designed for you. Harper One.

Spring has sprung on us with a bunch of freezing rain. So what better time than now to get set for a cozy crop of new podcasts for April. First up, as visit from our favorite mythical bunny with a grab bag of goodies in the form of new articles to discuss. Then finally wrap up our (winter!) Listener Choice episode with a tutorial on token economies before coming up with new ways to finish our paperwork and create meaningful family supports. Then, for patrons-only, our Spring Book Club looking at the female neurodivergent-supporting book, Divergent Mind. By the time you’ve listened to all of these episodes, the flowers will definitely be in bloom. Articles for April 2025 Hoppin’ Down the Grab Bag Trail (Spring 2025 Grab Bag) Nevill, R.E., Crawford, M.F., Zarcone, J.R., Maquera, E., Rooker, G.W., Schmidt, J.D. (2024). A retrospective consecutive controlled case series analysis of the assessment and treatment of elopement in children with autism in an inpatient setting. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-00979-1 Santa Cruz, H. A. C.,  MIltenburger, R. G. & Baruni., R. R. (2024). Evaluating remote behavioral skills training of online gaming safety skills. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 17, 246-256. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00830-z Kelly-Sisken, S., Reeve, K. F., McPheters, C. J., Vladescu, J. C, Reeve, S. A., & Jennings, A. M. (2025). Comparing equivalence-based instruction to a PowerPoint video lecture to teach differential reinforcement descriptors to college students. Behavioral Interventions, 40, online first publication. doi: 10.1002/bin.70002 Tutorial: Token Economies (Spring 2025 Listener Choice) Ackerman, K. B., Samudre, M., & Allday, R. A. (2020). Practical components for getting the most from a token economy.Teaching Exceptional Children, 52(4), 242-249. doi: 10.1177/0040059919892022 Kazdin, A.E. (1982). The token economy: A decade later. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 15, 431-445. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1982.15-431. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1982.15-431 Degli Espinosa, F. & Hackenberg, T.D. (2024). Token economies: Evidence-based recommendations for practitioners. Behavioral Interventions. doi: 10.1002/bin.2051 You Forgot to Do Your Paperwork Luna, O. & Rapp, J.T. (2019). Using a checklist to increase objective session note writing: Preliminary results. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12, 622-626. doi: 10.1007/s40617-018-00315-4 Halbur, M., Reidy, J., Kodak, T., Cowan, L., & Harman, M. (2024). Comparison of enhanced and standard data sheets on treatment fidelity and data collection for tact training. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 17, 533-543. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00869-y Brown, K.J. (2022). The use of a pictorially enhanced self-instruction packet ot improve weekly time sheet completion in an ABA clinic. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management. doi: 10.1080/01608061.2022.2063221 Family Supports and Contextualized Treatment Planning Russa, M.B., Matthews, A.L., & Owen-DeSchryver, J.S. (2015). Expanding supports to improve the lives of families of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 17, 95-104. doi: 10.1177/1098300714532134 Moes, D.R. & Frea, W.D. Using family context to inform intervention planning for the treatment of a child with autism. (2000). Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 2, 40-46. doi: 10.1177/109830070000200 Guinness, K.E., Atkinson, R.S., & Feil, E.G. (2024). Evaluating social validity to inform intervention development: Qualitative analysis of caregiver interviews. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 17, 870-879. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00899-6 Divergent Mind Book Club (PATRONS ONLY) Nerenberg, J. (2020). Divergent mind: Thriving in a world that wasn’t designed for you. Harper One.  

Delve into the nuances of ableism and its subtle presence in everyday practices. The discussion contrasts the medical and social models of disability, emphasizing the need for inclusivity in understanding autism. Insights from recent surveys reveal biases in perceptions of neurodiversity. Explore the balance between adapting individuals and fostering community engagement. The conversation also critiques the traditional framework of behavior analysis, advocating for a compassionate, neuroaffirming approach that respects individual differences.

Dr. Shanna Bahry, an expert in behavior analysis, joins to discuss the ethics of setting meaningful goals for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. They delve into the importance of crafting goals that truly enhance adult outcomes, transitioning from childhood services. The conversation highlights the need for tailored assessments and ethical considerations in goal-setting. With a mix of humor and serious insights, Dr. Bahry shares practical tools and anecdotes to support clients’ unique needs, making a compelling case for thoughtful collaboration in treatment.

Dr. Nicole Gravina, an associate professor at the University of Florida, dives into the complexities of Registered Behavior Technicians' burnout in Florida. She discusses innovative qualitative research methods that reveal the deeper reasons behind burnout, emphasizing the importance of structured breaks and organizational support. With a focus on thematic analysis, she highlights how researchers' perspectives influence findings, advocating for more engaging ways to support RBTs in their challenging roles.